Early team news: One confirmed starter and two absentees ahead of Newcastle United vs Manchester City (Carabao Cup Third Round)

Kalvin Phillips will be named in the starting line-up at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night for Manchester City, it has been confirmed ahead of kick-off in the Carabao Cup.

Manchester City open their latest pursuit of success in the League Cup this week with a challenging journey north to face Eddie Howe’s firing Newcastle United in the first hurdle of the competition this season.

Pep Guardiola and his players come into the match in fine form of their own, remaining on a 100 per cent winning run in the Premier League after the opening six matches, whilst also claiming three points in their first contest in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

City’s latest outing saw them dismiss of Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a 2-0 scoreline via goals from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, but did lose Rodri to a three-match ban in the process following a straight red card for violent conduct.

While the Spanish defensive midfielder may not have started the contest in the north-east anyway, he is now banned for the fixture entirely and will also miss a double-header of Premier League away matches against Wolves and Arsenal next month.

Rodri joins a number of players who remain ruled out due to injury, as Bernardo Silva and John Stones are among the names to remain away from the first-team set-up, while Kevin De Bruyne continue to make steps forward towards a return in early 2024.

Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic are welcome returns to the Manchester City first-team squad this week however, as both players return to full fitness following respective muscular injuries that prevented them from featuring during the most recent international break.

Ahead of the release of the confirmed and official starting line-ups at St. James’ Park, a number of sources have began releasing snippets of Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up and matchday squad.

As per Pep Guardiola speaking during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon, the Carabao Cup third round visit to Newcastle will be an opportunity for Kalvin Phillips – who will start in midfield for the Premier League champions.

Guardiola said of Phillips, “We have a specific way to play, sometimes he struggles with a few things. The previous one (against Nottingham Forest) was perfect, his biggest quality. But he’s open-minded, always wants to learn, always wants to help.”

In further information, as provided by the Manchester Evening News’ Joe Bray, Micah Hamilton makes the step up to join the Manchester City matchday squad, as well as the returning Mateo Kovacic following a spell out through injury.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, as well as Pep Guardiola, are expected to confirm their respective starting line-ups at approximately 19:00 BST on Wednesday night.

Now confirmed.